Hundreds of residents have signed a petition calling on Hillingdon Council to appeal a decision to allow houses to be built on back gardens.

An application to build two semi-detached houses on the back gardens of 10 and 12 Torcross Road, South Ruislip, was refused by Hillingdon Council in August last year.

However, this was appealed by the developers, Daniel Family Homes, and the planning inspector decided to allow the appeal.

A 239 signature petition asking the council to appeal this decision is being handed in this week.

A resident of Bideford Road, who did not want to be named, said: "We are very concerned that if we lose back gardens, future generations won't be able to enjoy them and when they're gone, they're gone.

"It will be detrimental to the local area and it will open the flood gates to similar developments in Hillingdon.

"It's precisely this sort of thing the council needs to make a stand on."

Don Ticehurst, a member of South Ruislip Residents' Association, said: "The whole of this estate was built on the basis of being open aspect and these back gardens which go up the side of roads like Bideford provide that open space.

"It's just not on to fill them all in because it makes the whole area completely cramped."

Cavendish councillor, Kay Willmott-Denbeigh, said: "We are fully supportive of residents in their fight against this development and we are therefore currently seeking advice to try and get this problem resolved."

In 2007 Ruislip-Northwood MP, Nick Hurd, started a campaign called Stop the Garden Grab, and he has now written to Jean Palmer, head of planning and transportation at the council, asking her to appeal the decision.

He said: "Across the area we are seeing gardens and open spaces filled in with concrete and I think that is bad for the quality of life in the community and bad for the area."